AIMS Medical Science, 2018, 5(3): 224-237. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2018.3.224 Research article Special Issues

Export file:

Format

RIS(for EndNote,Reference Manager,ProCite)
BibTex
Text

Content

Citation Only
Citation and Abstract

“…like you’re pushing the snowball back up hill”—the experiences of Australian physiotherapists promoting non-treatment physical activity: A qualitative study

Breanne E. Kunstler, Paul D O’Halloran, Jill L. Cook, Joanne L. Kemp, Caroline F. Finch

1 Faculty of Health, Federation University Australia, , Ballarat, VIC, Australia
2 School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
3 La Trobe Sports and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
4 School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia

Received: , Accepted: , Published:

Special Issues: Reducing Sedentary Behavior after Hospitalization for Musculoskeletal Trauma

Abstract Full Text(HTML) Figure/Table Related pages

Participating in physical activity is important for maintaining general health. When physiotherapists promote physical activity for the purposes of maintaining or improving a patient’s general health, they are promoting non-treatment physical activity. Physiotherapists have a responsibility to promote non-treatment physical activity to their patients while also providing the patient with treatment for their presenting complaint. This qualitative study explored the experiences of Australian physiotherapists promoting non-treatment physical activity to patients with musculoskeletal conditions. Ten Australian physiotherapists treating patients with musculoskeletal conditions in private practice and outpatient settings were recruited using a social media campaign and snowballing. All interviewees received one $AU20 gift card for participating. Sixty-minute semi-structured interviews were conducted and were transcribed verbatim. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to design the interview guide and analyse data. Transcripts were used to identify emergent and superordinate themes. Most interviewees were female, aged between 25–34 years, physically active and reported promoting NTPA. The superordinate themes that emerged from the transcripts included: Internal and external influences on NTPA promotion, approach taken by the physiotherapist towards NTPA promotion, challenges experienced when promoting NTPA, and skills and training. In conclusion, physiotherapists reported they were well-placed to promote NTPA, but they face many challenges. The perceived inability to motivate patients to become physically active and the need to prioritise patient expectations of hands-on therapy made NTPA promotion difficult. Workplace specific factors, such as having an open-plan clinic environment and having other staff who promote NTPA, were perceived to make NTPA promotion easier. Using effective marketing strategies that portray the physiotherapy clinic as a physically active environment might see patients expect NTPA promotion, making NTPA promotion easier for Australian physiotherapists in the future.

Figure/Table

Supplementary

Article Metrics

References

1. Blair SN (2009) Physical inactivity: The biggest public health problem of the 21st century. Br J Sports Med 43: 1–2.

2. Commonwealth of Australia, Australia's physical activity & sedentary behaviour guidelines for adults (18–64 years), 2014. Available from: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-act-guidelines#apaadult.

3. Hallal P, Andersen L, Bull F, et al. (2012) Global physical activity levels: Surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects. Lancet 380: 247–257.

4. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Exercise, 2015. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4364.0.55.001~2014-15~Main%20Features~Exercise~29.

5. World Confederation for Physical Therapy, Physical therapy, physical activity and health, 2012. Available from: http://www.wcpt.org/node/33329.

6. Vos T, Flaxman A, Naghavi M, et al. (2013) Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990–2010: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet 380: 2163–2196.

7. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australia's health 2016, 2017. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/9844cefb-7745-4dd8-9ee2-f4d1c3d6a727/19787-AH16.pdf.aspx?inline=true.

8. McPhail S, Schippers M, Marshall A, et al. (2014) Perceived barriers and facilitators to increasing physical activity among people with musculoskeletal disorders: A qualitative investigation to inform intervention development. Clin Interv Aging 9: 2113–2122.

9. Alexander J, Bambury E, Mendoza A, et al. (2012) Health education strategies used by physical therapists to promote behaviour change in people with lifestyle-related conditions: A systematic review. Hong Kong Physiother J 30: 57–75.

10. Kunstler B, Cook J, Freene N, et al. (2017) Physiotherapist-led physical activity interventions are efficacious at increasing physical activity levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin J Sport Med 2017: 1.

11. Smith J, Flowers P, Larkin M (2009) Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research. Los Angeles: SAGE.

12. Smith J, Osborne M (2008) Interpretative phenomenological analysis, In: Smith J, editor., Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. 2nd ed., Los Angeles: SAGE, 53–80.

13. Kunstler B, Cook J, Freene N, et al. (2017) Physiotherapists use a small number of behaviour change techniques when promoting physical activity: A systematic review comparing experimental and observational studies. J Sci Med Sport.

14. Huijg J, Dusseldorp E, Gebhardt W, et al. (2014) Factors associated with physical therapists' implementation of physical activity interventions in the Netherlands. Phys Ther 95: 539–557.

15. Huijg J, Gebhardt W, Verheijden M, et al. (2015) Factors influencing primary health care professionals' physical activity promotion behaviors: A systematic review. Int J Behav Med 22: 32–50.

16. Huijg J, Zouwe N, Crone M, et al. (2014) Factors influencing the introduction of physical activity interventions in primary health care: A qualitative study. Int J Behav Med 22: 404–414.

17. Yardley L (2000) Dilemmas in qualitative health research. Psychol Health 15: 215–228.

18. Braun V, Clarke V (2013) Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for beginners. London: Thousand Oaks.

19. Michie S, Richardson M, Johnston M, et al. (2013) The behavior change technique taxonomy (v1) of 93 hierarchically clustered techniques: Building an international consensus for the reporting of behavior change interventions. Ann Behav Med 46: 81–95.

20. Freene N, Cools S, Bissett B (2017) Are we missing opportunities? Physiotherapy and physical activity promotion: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 9: 1–8.

21. Hopcraft M, Hayes M, Remedios L, et al. (2016) Health promoting practices pilot project: Final report, 2014. Available from: http://www.healthpromotingpractices.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Final-report-FINAL-v-3.01-with-attachments.pdf.

22. Hoekstra F, Hettinga F, Den B, et al. (2017) Professionals' perceptions of factors affecting implementation and continuation of a physical activity promotion programme in rehabilitation: A qualitative study. J Rehabil Med 49: 385–394.

23. Zeithaml V, Bitner M, Gremler D (2009) Services marketing: Integrating customer focus across the firm. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

24. Stilwell P, Harman K (2017) I didn't pay her to teach me how to fix my back': A focused ethnographic study exploring chiropractors' and chiropractic patients' experiences and beliefs regarding exercise adherence. J Can Chiropr Assoc 61: 219–230.

25. Alexanders J, Anderson A, Henderson S (2015) Musculoskeletal physiotherapists' use of psychological interventions: A systematic review of therapists' perceptions and practice. Physiotherapy 101: 95–102.

26. Crisford P, Winzenberg T, Venn A, et al. (2013) Understanding the physical activity promotion behaviours of podiatrists: A qualitative study. J Foot Ankle Res 6: 1–10.

27. Malan Z, Mash R, Everett-Murphy K (2015) Qualitative evaluation of primary care providers experiences of a training programme to offer brief behaviour change counselling on risk factors for non-communicable diseases in South Africa. BMC Fam Pract 16: 101.

28. Holden J, Davidson M, O'Halloran P (2015) Motivational strategies for returning patients with low back pain to usual activities: A survey of physiotherapists working in Australia. Man Ther 20: 842–849.

29. McKenna J, Henderson L, Baic S (2004) A survey to assess physical activity promotion by registered dietitians. J Hum Nutr Diet 17: 63–69.

30. Groven K, Heggen K (2016) Evidence and/or experience-based knowledge in lifestyle treatment of patients diagnosed as obese? IPJP 16: 1–14.

31. Smith-Turchyn J, Richardson J, Tozer R, et al. (2016) Physical activity and breast cancer: A qualitative study on the barriers to and facilitators of exercise promotion from the perspective of health care professionals. Physiother Can 68: 383–390.

32. Rubiovalera M, Ponsvigués M, Morenoperal P, et al. (2014) Barriers and facilitators for the implementation of primary prevention and health promotion activities in primary care: A synthesis through meta-ethnography. PLoS One 9: 1–13.

33. Irvine A, Drew P, Sainsbury R (2013) "Am I not answering your questions properly?" Clarification, adequacy and responsiveness in semi-structured telephone and face-to-face interviews. Qual Res Qr 13: 87–106.

34. Sweet L (2002) Telephone interviewing: Is it compatible with interpretive phenomenological research? Contemp Nurse 12: 58–63.

Download full text in PDF

Export Citation

Article outline

Show full outline